Owl City // Beautiful Times Feat. Lindsey Stirling

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If we said Owl City to you, we reckon the first thing that jump to mind would be that track from a few years ago…yes you know the one, we are talking about Fireflies although we’ll give you credit if you also said Good Time, the duet with Carly Rae Jepsen.

It’s a darkish song lyrically although melodically it has a light and happy feeling to it but it unmistakably Owl City. Of course, it also features a blog favourite Lindsey Stirling but we'd like to have had her a wee bit more involved that it seems she is.

Other than that, it's not a bad wee number and perfect if you're looking for something a little different.

Rating: 4/5

John Barrowman // You Raise Me Up

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Apparently it's been 3 years since John Barrowman's last release (Tonight's The Night) and now he's back with his latest release, You Raise Me Up.

Opening with Christina Perri's A Thousand Years we immediately hit a snag with the opening verse as it's too proper (ever word pronounced instead of allowing to flow) but this seems soon rectified as the song progresses. From ballad to more upbeat with Doobie Brothers Listen To The Music and this makes for a more comfortable listen. All too soon though we're back to a ballad in the form of Raise Me Up before heading into Demi Lovato's Skyscrapper which we can't make our mind up what side of the tempo is wrong, the lyrics or the melody.

Barry Manilow's Mandy is next and for fans, they already that John can deliver this as he's previously performed it live on tour. Back to upbeat track with That's Just The Way It Is (we originally know it done by Celine Dion) but all too soon we're back to ballads with Simon and Garfunkel's classic Bridge Over Troubled Water (beautifully performed we might say) and Goodbye My Friend

The Broadway classic This Is The Moment is up next and proves no difficulty for Barrowman, given his theatrical background. Back to an upbeat track with a cover of Michael Buble's Hollywood before finally closing with a classic Scottish track Loch Lomand although we do have mixed feelings over it.

Overall, we feel that there's a bit of hit and miss here with the track selection. Some work well while other just seem not to suit at all and whether this is just down to the arrangements or the songs themselves is difficult to say. For the adoring fans out there, they will probably enjoy. For us, we think the albums of cover is that comfortable jacket that's getting a little frayed. We'd love to see something a little different...like an album of original material. We'll even settle for an EP for starters.

Rating: 3/5

Film Review: Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie

It's been a hit on the stage. It's been a hit on the small screen. So can D'movie do the same on the big screen?

The film revolves around Mrs Brown discovering what unpaid taxes on her stall and ultimately, becoming the face of a campaign to save the Moore Street market. But through this, a dark secret from Agnes Brown's past will rear it's head...

The film itself works 50/50. The TV show works as it's filmed in front of a live audience but it's a little odd not to hear laughter in the film. There's a few moments in the where obvious mistakes have been made and left in, which sort of takes you out of the film.. Although there is plenty of laughable moments, the jokes in the film do seem to be a little tamer compared to what we're used to. We found that we were laughing at some points where others weren't but we guess that all comes down you your sense of humour

We think this could have been much more but that there is something missing here that seems to have been lost in translation from stage and small screen to the big one. It's still enjoyable but if you've any doubts, maybe wait until it comes out on DVD.

Rating: 3/5

Scarlette Fever // Return of the Fever

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We sort of kept an eye on this young lady for the past few years since seeing her live supporting Mike & The Mechanics and now her latest release comes in the form of an EP titled Return of the Fever.

Although 4 tracks, there is actually only 3 songs as one of the songs, Where’s The Fun?, actually features twice. Why? Because this isn’t probably what you expected. This is actually remixes of tracks from her forthcoming album (at last check titled, Attack of the 6ft Woman…we think) and these tracks are 6ft Woman, P.S. I Hate You and already mentioned Where’s The Fun. What we’ve always loved is that the remixes of Scarlette’s songs always seems to be sympathetic to the original track (you can check out the originals on Soundcloud in case you want to compare) instead of making them something that they aren’t.

If you’re needing something to tide you over to the release (come on Scarlette, we’re waiting!) this might be up your street.But if you prefer you music un-remixed, you’re going to have a wait a little longer.

Rating: 4/5

p.s. you can check other remixes of her previous tracks also on her Soundcloud page

Pixie Lott // Lay Me Down

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It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything from Miss Lott but now she’s back with her latest offering Lay Me Down

You might recognise part of it given that it’s currently being used in the advertising campaign for Ballista hair sprays & dry shampoos (which, coincidently, features Pixie promoting their products. 10 points to the marketing/promotional team.) The song itself reminds us a little of her first album and in fact her debut single Mama Do but with a mix of her last album.

It’s good enough to make you forget about that monstrosity that was Nasty…

Rating: 4/5